What people are saying...
We occasionally receive comments from members and newcomers about their experience at OUUC. Here is a selection...
Mary Walton Cameron
After growing up in a traditional Christian church, I began to question many of its basic tenets beginning in high school. Ultimately I concluded that I didn’t believe in Christianity, but I did believe that there was SOMETHING ? a great mystery ? that governed the universe. After exploring other religious avenues, I learned about Unitarian Universalism in 1983. Here was a place where the questions are more important than the answers! Equally important as a spiritual home is the fellowship of a like-minded community. When I moved to Olympia six years ago I found a congregation engaged in the social justice activities that had meant so much to me in my former home. Thus I found friends and co-workers in a common cause. I volunteered to work with our emergency shelter for homeless families with young children and became a member of the OUUC Board. Social activities such as Dinners for Eight and Small Group Ministry helped me get to know more people in our congregation. In short , the more I put into this community, the more benefits I reap.
- Mary Walton Cameron
Ron Hinson
The Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation is a place of welcome and joy, open to all people who desire to be in community with others who care deeply about each other, our world, and the community in which we live. That is what I sensed as soon as I began participating in the OUUC twelve years ago. Through the programs and Sunday services of the church I have enlarged, refined and evolved in my already long journey in seeking a religious path that embraces reason, doubt, and serious inquiries into theology as well as social responsibility. It has also been a place of personal solace where I can be with others who care about me and who allow me to care about them. It is a community that encourages independent thinking while acting in interdependent ways. As a longtime teacher in the children’s religious education program I have learned from the children as well as deepened my own appreciation for the richness of our tradition. I am proud that our Congregation continually tries to reach out to those in our community who are less fortunate, and to those who want to follow non-traditional modes of family and sexual orientation. The church is not limited to serving others only on Sundays. It has been a joy to become an active participant in the work of the Congregation, where everyone can make a contribution. Here we celebrate life!
- Ron Hinson
Carol Horner
I came to the Olympia UU church in 1978 as a long time Unitarian because the beliefs and behavior of Unitarians fit so well for me. What I most value here are the well prepared, thought provoking Sunday services. Because I have moved so often in my life, I never felt that I had a community around me. Even though I'm single and a bit shy, I feel a close bond with other church members . . . when I arrive, I'm “home.”
- Carol Horner
Jack Jackson
It isn't often that I take time to write about my beliefs, let alone give testimony about them. I first started attending OUUC a couple of years ago at the urging of my wife, Karen. She said that she found a community that made her feel welcome and didn't challenge her beliefs. I have always tried to support her, and for years we practiced Christian Science, a belief system that is very rigid and, at best, difficult to practice. At any rate, I figured that it was worth a look. My beliefs have always been a little contrary to the mainstream, I was born a Lutheran and raised a Catholic (I know, they're practically the same any more). My God was not the same as the Lutherans and certainly not the same as the Catholics and as for the Christian Scientists it was totally different. My first Sunday service was not one given by Art. It was a “This I Believe” by one of the “Building Your Own Theology” graduates. Although I didn't accept all of the beliefs of the person speaking, I thought to myself, what a great idea - I can believe what I want and be accepted by the congregation. “We don't have to believe alike to love alike.” This concept was almost unheard of in any of the previous religions I had practiced. I found a home in OUUC. Since I joined in January of 2007 I have made so many new friends and have participated in as many of the meetings and other events as possible, always feeling welcome. Karen and I have visited many other UU's in our travels, and without exception, are always greeted in a warm and friendly manner. I love this congregation in particular, and UU is my religious inspiration for always.
- Jack Jackson
Karen Jackson
About 8 years ago I started reading about Wicca (an earth-centered/pagan belief system) on the internet. Many of the sites I visited mentioned that the Unitarian Universalists were tolerant of many diverse faiths, and I became curious if I might like such a church. I looked in the phone book and found the address and phone number for OUUC, and the next time I didn’t have to work on a Sunday, came to a service. It was during the summer and so every Sunday I visited it was a different speaker and message. I loved looking forward to hearing something new every Sunday. And when September rolled around, I saw there was a regular minister that I still looked forward to hearing every Sunday. I agreed with most of what I heard, and I learned when our CUUPs group meets. I attended the CUUPs Samhain (last harvest) Ritual and I loved the way they honored those who had passed away during that year and then welcomed the children who had been born. That was the first ritual I had ever attended and I felt like I really belonged.
My first impression was that here is a group of people who really care about our world and want to be a community that can make a difference. It’s over 7 years later, and I am so happy and proud to belong to this congregation. I help in the youth Religious Education, am a member of the Worship Arts Committee, and help facilitate the CUUPs activities. I've been a greeter, served on the board of our shelter, Out of The Woods, and even delivered a “This I Believe” at a Sunday service. I really love this place! There are so many friends I've made - people I really like to hang out with - that are amazingly generous and smart and loving and patient. OUUC is the place where I feel completely accepted as I travel my faith journey, and it's where I have the opportunity to do something tangible to help better our world.
– Karen Jackson
Samara and Tom Joldersma
“True religion is based on spirituality, love, compassion, understanding, and appreciation of each other whatever our beliefs may be - Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Athiests, Agnostics or whatever.” This quote from the book “Grand Theft Jesus” describes exactly what we have felt and sought for most of our lives. We are so happy to have found them all at the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Besides all of the above, this congregation knows how to have fun.
We were not thinking of actually joining OUUC until Camp Quixote (the tent city for homeless people) was in urgent need of a welcome somewhere. The board of directors of OUUC heard about the need that had to be met that day and had an emergency meeting and approved hosting Camp Quixote. The following week there was almost unanimous approval by the congregation. We were so impressed that a group of people would walk their talk with such open heartedness, we wanted to join.
The adult education at OUUC also played a part in the why we joined OUUC. The offerings were so diverse and enticing - there were very few that we did not want to attend. The religious education for children is also a wonderful program for children of all ages. When our grandchildren visit they want to go to OUUC with us because “they are so nice there - it is fun” in their words. One of our regrets is that we did not know about Unitarian Universalism when our four children were young. It would have been a wise and respectful way to help each of them find their own unique spiritual way.
Perhaps the most important aspect of being a Unitarian Universalist is that we are encouraged to discover Truth for ourselves. There are no creeds, no ready made belief systems - one size fits all - that we can plug into. That has never worked for us. We have always felt we have to find our own way to the Truth. To be a part of a religious community that ascribes to that and supports this quest has made all the difference for us.
- Samara and Tom Joldersma
Heather Rader
I recognized that church rhymes with ‘lurch’ and ‘perch’ at a young age. That pretty much describes my experiences of it; I would lurch into church and be spoken down to from a perch. But when I entered the sanctuary of OUUC for a wedding, I saw colorful banners that depicted...gasp...more than one religious expression. During that ceremony, Art spoke about our homosexual friends that could not yet legally commit to each other and how the celebration was also a reminder of work to be done. I thought, “What is this place?”
Since then I’ve discovered this place is my social justice community and spiritual home. We have been attending OUUC for four years and have felt a deep sense of pride raising our kids in a place where questions are not only permitted, they are celebrated. My eleven-year-old son, through the OWL program, received a sexuality education far beyond what his school or well-intentioned parents could have offered him. I am thrilled that my girls get to experience puberty with support and understanding as they come of age. There is a quote that goes, “Angels fly because they take themselves lightly” and it is true that UUs are known for being thinkers, maybe even over-thinkers, but what I experience on Sundays is mindful fun and laughter. I need that in my weekend to help lighten up my world.
Sometimes people who know me well, wrinkle their noses and say, “You go to church?” and I understand what they are saying. They are thinking of the Lurch Perch Church, but that’s not OUUC, it’s more of a “nurch” (nurturing) church.
- Heather Rader
Melanie Ransom
I value attending OUUC because it is a place where I have deep relationships with people of all ages and experiences. I’ve had opportunities to do Yule Plays and Pirate Themed events with our youth and share meals with the residents of Camp Quixote and also with great world travelers. And when joyful, painful or sad events touch our lives, we are all there together, holding each other up in a community of love.
- Melanie Ransom
Shawn Smith & family
When my wife Tina and I found OUUC we had been looking for a church to attend that would fit our needs. I actually should say my wife was looking more than I was. She wanted to start attending a church with our son Spencer, who at the time was about 7. She felt it would be nice for us as a family to have a base for our spiritual growth. The search was tougher than she thought since I was very content in not attending an organized church that may dictate what we should believe. When I was a child I dealt with a life threatening illness and had many different denominations pray for me. My wife, knowing this, knew that if we were to attend a church as a family we would need a church that was open minded to all faiths and beliefs. Through some internet searching she discovered Unitarian Universalism. And before long she located OUUC. When we first attended we knew right away we had found a place we could attend and feel comfortable with our beliefs. We attended a full year before signing the membership book. We both have been involved with the children’s RE program, and our son has enjoyed attending the services the RE program provides. I think the best part for us as a family, is knowing we have the freedom to explore other faiths. It is a great feeling to know we are in a place that even if others do not agree with us, or we don’t agree with them, we can all find a middle ground and learn from each other.
- Shawn Smith
Ann Yeo
In December 2000, I found Unitarian Universalism – after 30 years of spiritual wandering. As a young woman, I had drifted away from the Protestant Christianity of my childhood, labeled myself agnostic, and denied any personal need for religion. Yet, as the years passed, I began looking for something else to nourish my spirit. Eventually, old friends suggested that I might find what I was seeking in Unitarian Universalism. Then I read a newspaper notice that the local UU congregation planned a “Greening of the Church” service to honor the non-Christian origins and traditions of today’s Christian midwinter festival. Intrigued, I attended that service, then continued to return every Sunday. A few months later, I signed the membership book and pledged my support.
Here’s what attracted me and kept me: This is a faith community that requires no profession of belief in any dogmatic theology; yet it expects agreement with a list of ethical principles that include respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person and respect for the interdependent web of all existence (in other words, care for one another, care for the environment). Side by side, folks of many different faith backgrounds meet to worship, to celebrate life, and to practically address social-justice issues (for example, by supporting a permanent homeless shelter and a transient tent city on their property). Men and women are co-equal here. Gays and lesbians are equally-valued members of the community. The minister is called by the congregation, not sent by a higher authority. There is a strong tradition of lay leadership. And there is encouragement and support for one another’s ongoing, personal search for truth and meaning.
In more wonderful ways than I can relate here, walking into Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation that Sunday morning eight years ago changed my life.
- Ann Yeo